European "Visa-Free" Travel with a Price Tag: How Brussels Invented a Paid Visa and Got Tangled in It
All news | | 1,688 | Author: By Olena Zelenina
Collage by Olena Zelenina.
The European Union is postponing the launch of its controversial ETIAS electronic authorization system, which was set to become mandatory for all travelers from visa-exempt countries, including Ukraine. But not for long…
As reported by the authoritative Financial Times, due to total chaos with queues and technical glitches at EU borders, the EU-LISA agency was forced to admit that launching the system by the end of 2026, as previously planned, is no longer feasible.
For millions of Ukrainians, this means a temporary cancellation of Brussels' plans to "levy a duty" of 20 euros on every private trip. According to the Financial Times, the launch of the system has failed spectacularly and has been pushed back at least until next year.
For millions of Ukrainians accustomed to crossing the EU border under the concise rule of "a biometric passport and nothing extra," this news comes as a real breath of fresh air. After all, Brussels had planned to "levy a duty" on every private journey by the end of this year.
Read more in the Ukrainian edition....
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